The Abbeyfield York Society celebrated its 60th anniversary with an event to lay the foundation stone of its new development, adjacent to their existing sheltered housing scheme, Abbeyfield House, on Regency Mews in Dringhouses.
The foundation stone-laying ceremony at Abbeyfield House marks a crucial milestone in the construction of a new 25-bed building, which will include 19 apartments provided as social rentals and six homes for sale. Seventeen will include the option of additional care packages, and eight offer enhanced provision for people living with dementia.
The total project cost is at £6.1 million of which the build contract is £5.1 million. Funding has come from a variety of avenues, including substantial grants awarded by Homes England, funding from The Abbeyfield Society and loan funding from Charity Bank.
However, a large proportion was raised via the Recycled Capital Grant Fund, which enabled the reallocation of assets from four other local Abbeyfields to the project, totaling over £700,000. The Abbeyfield Christchurch, Abbeyfield Grimsby, Cleethorpes and District, and Abbeyfield Widnes Societies have recently ceased trading, and the subsequent reallocation of these organisations’ funds to the Regency Mews project means that their legacies of providing accommodation and care for older people can be upheld.
In addition, the Abbeyfield Loughborough Society recently closed one of its services, opting to focus on its residential care home, Westfield House.
The money accrued from the sale of the Society’s closed property was donated and repurposed by Abbeyfield York for the new development.
We are indebted to our sister Member Societies and The Abbeyfield Society for their generous contributions, Homes England, the Government’s grant-awarding body, and Charity Bank for their financial and investment support. This new development will ensure quality, affordable accommodation for older people can be provided at Regency Mews for years to come. The cost of the initial proposed development was adversely affected by a combination of factors, including Brexit, the COVID-19 pandemic and the current economic uncertainty. Fortunately, the other local Member Societies saw the Regency Mews extension as an opportunity to ensure that their capital was put towards helping people in the North of England to receive quality care, security and companionship in later life within the Abbeyfield Family.
Dr. Robert Porter, Abbeyfield York Chairman
Abbeyfield House provides a supportive environment for older people, supplemented by a domiciliary care service with packages tailored to each resident’s needs. The house provides a varied schedule of social activities and offers a range of health and wellbeing services including hairdressing, chiropody and reflexology. Residents receive three nutritious home-cooked meals a day and are free to relax in the beautiful landscaped garden or comfortable communal lounge.
Dr Porter added, “The completion of the new construction project will enhance and strengthen our care at home provision. It will furthermore ensure our future viability as an important housing partner in the local community – a fitting way to celebrate our 60th year and build for the future.”
The Abbeyfield movement was established in 1956 by one man. Richard Carr Gomm's determination to put an end to the loneliness and neglect of older citizens and it has grown from these humble beginnings. Today, the Abbeyfield Family provides homes and services in local community across 11 countries and four continents including Australia, Canada, New Zealand and South Africa. With such a rich heritage, social purpose and desire to improve the lives of older people, it was an absolute honour to attend York Society's 60th Anniversary and meet and talk to residents, trustees, staff and volunteers. It was equally made more special with laying the foundation stone to the new 25 unit development, scheduled for completion in just over a year’s time, a development that will hopefully continue to serve the York community for decades to come. From all of us in the Abbeyfield Family, I’d like to wish a very happy 60th anniversary to the Abbeyfield York Society.
Abdul Ravat, Abbeyfield Head of Development and Relationships
The new facility, which is being built by Vistry Partnerships Yorkshire, is expected to open in January 2024. To enquire about vacancies, please call 01904 704500.
Learn more about The Abbeyfield York Society
The Abbeyfield York Society was established in 1962, by a strong group of volunteers, and active support from many local organisations such as York Lions, York Rotary, York Inner Wheel and York Medical Society.
